BBC number 2 lands Channel 4 top job

In the UK, the search for Channel 4's new ceo seems to have finally been resolved, with the job of running the terrestrial channel set to go to a top BBC executive.

Mark Thompson is currently head of television at the BBC, second only to director general Greg Dyke. But Channel 4 is reported to be in exclusive negotiations with the 44-year-old to fill its empty ceo chair – vacant since Michael Jackson was poached by USA Networks back in November.

The move brings to an end much industry speculation and guesswork about who would land the top job at the channel. Names thrown around in the three months since Jackson announced his move have included Endemol UK's creative director Peter Bazalgette, Lord Alli from Elisabeth Murdoch's indie Shine Entertainment, alongside ex-ITV ceo Richard Eyre, ITV's head of programmes David Liddiment, Channel 5's Dawn Airey and Uncle Tom Cobbly.

Thompson – who once confessed that his family nickname is 'Beachball' – has had previous jobs at the BBC including controller of BBC2, as well as masterminding the corporation's digital strategy. This will be much needed over at Horseferry Road, where Channel 4's digital strategy has seen a few hiccups in recent months with its interactive division recently folded back into its pay-TV division.

Meanwhile, John McVay, the ceo of the UK producers' trade body PACT, has urged Thompson to {leave all of the BBC’s old-fashioned thinking behind him when he moves to Horseferry Road.{

PACT’s Chair, Beryl Vertue added: {While at the BBC, Mark recognised the importance of indies, and he’s now in the ideal place to develop the sector. I do hope that the BBC will act swiftly in filling his shoes. Too many important positions are already unfilled, causing problems for producers both in-house and independent.{